NU
Mon, 07 July 2025
KATHMANDU, Nepal – Nepal’s women’s national football team is set to return home today, their hopes of a historic AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualification dashed in a dramatic penalty shootout. On Saturday night in Tashkent's Bunyodkor Stadium, a thrilling 3-3 draw against hosts Uzbekistan ultimately ended in a 4-2 defeat from the spot, denying Nepal a place in the continental championship for the first time through qualification.
The loss carries significant weight, as it also extinguishes the 'Cheli's' path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Uzbekistan, ranked 51st by FIFA compared to Nepal's 100th, secured their own return to the Asian Cup finals after a 22-year absence since 2003.
The winner-takes-all Group F decider saw Uzbekistan establish an early lead. Within the first minute, Feruza Turdiboeva's long-range shot deflected to Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva, who found the net. Just ten minutes later, Lyudmila Karachik’s low drive was inadvertently turned into Nepal's own net by Samiksha Ghimire, doubling the hosts' advantage.
Nepal's captain and star striker Sabitra Bhandari, known affectionately as 'Samba' and the all-time highest goal scorer in Nepalese football history with 66 goals in 60 appearances, reignited their challenge. She pulled one back in the 24th minute with a stunning strike from outside the box. However, Uzbekistan restored their two-goal cushion in the 39th minute when Maftuna Shoyimova converted a penalty after a handball by Saraswati Hamal.
A pivotal moment arrived just before halftime when Uzbekistan’s Nozimakhon Ergasheva received a second yellow card for a foul on Sabitra, reducing the hosts to ten players. Capitalising on the advantage, Nepal, whose team operates under the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) with the motto "Football for Change," mounted a formidable second-half comeback. Gita Rana headed in a corner from Rekha Paudel in the 71st minute, and just a minute later, Sabitra netted again, remarkably levelling the score at 3-3.
With no resolution in regulation time, the match proceeded to penalties. Nepal's opening shot from Sabitra hit the post, and goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar's effort was saved. Only Gita Rana and Sabita Rana Magar converted their spot-kicks, while M. Soyimova, Y. Zoirova, M. Khikmatova, and M. Aminijonova successfully converted all four of Uzbekistan's penalties, sealing their victory.
This defeat adds another entry to a long-standing pattern for Nepal's women's team. Despite reaching 13 finals across various competitions, including multiple SAFF Women's Championships (e.g., 2010, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2024), the South Asian Games, the 2024 WAFF Women's Championship, and the 2025 International Women's Championship, they remain without a major trophy. This loss also marks their fifth consecutive defeat to Uzbekistan in official encounters.
Earlier in the qualifiers, Nepal had demonstrated dominant form, clinching a 9–0 victory against Laos in what was their 100th international match in women's football history, followed by an 8–0 triumph over Sri Lanka. However, their hopes on the big stage were once again left unfulfilled.
As the 'Cheli' return home, the football fraternity ponders how this talented squad will finally transcend their 'crucial match' jinx and convert their evident potential into tangible triumph.
